Tehran Movie Review: John Abraham Deliver High-Octane  Spy Thriller Yet

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Tehran Movie Review

Tehran Movie Review: John Abraham delivers a gripping spy thriller inspired by real events. Read our detailed review covering performances, plot, strengths, flaws, and OTT release details.

Tehran Movie Review

Tehran ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

Though I’m probably the best qualified person to have seen much of the patriotism-tinged spy fare that exists, I didn’t expect “Tehran” to slam this hard–but herein we are. The John Abraham-starrer drops on ZEE5 on August 14, 2025, and expertly couples the weight of actual geopolitics with the seriousness of personal loss, delivering a film that feels perpetually like it matters and is emotionally complex. 

Why Tehran Feels So Real (and Hits Hard)

It’s Based on Real Events, and Not Just a Good Story

“Tehran” is based on the Delhi bombing of 2012 that injured Israeli diplomat Tal Yehoshua Koren. The sticky bomb, which was attached to a car, targeted diplomats.

This real-life connection brings urgency and authenticity to the story. As one review pointed out astutely, “It uses the actual, harrowing event and doesn’t romanticize

A Geopolitical Web, Not A Black-and-White Story

The film immerses us in a world where India becomes collateral damage in the Iranian-Israeli conflict. ACP Rajeev Kumar (John Abraham) goes rogue, not because he follows an archetype, but because he has been betrayed by everyone. It projects a world where it’s never clear what the best decision is, which is what allows it to feel mature. 

Strong Performances that Elevate the Film

 John Abraham—A Performance of Quiet Intensity.

Critics agree: this could be John Abraham’s most measured and effective role to date. He exchanges the hyper-masculine bravado of previous performances for a portrayal of grief, duty, and the cold destruction of being rejected by one’s own country. 

Supporting Cast—Subtle but Majorly Important

Manushi Chhillar (SI Divya Rana): Limited on-screen time, but maximum effect. She has an understated yet unforgettable near-soothing moment that kicks off the ultimate plot jump…

Neeru Bajwa (Diplomat Sheilaja): She brings gravitas and thoughtfulness, adding weight to the otherwise starkly realistic jargon of diplomats around the world with her quiet strength.

What Works—and What Could Be Sharper

 The Biggest Strengths

Realistic visuals: A stunning visual experience, even the colour palette changes drastically from Delhi’s gritty streets to Tehran’s atmospheric alleys, proving mastery of the visual language and impacting all mise-en-scène elements.

Taut directorial vision and screenplay: Arun Gopalan’s first film (written by Ritesh Shah, Ashish P. Verma, and Bindni Karia) leans more toward restraint than spectacle. There are no explosions, but we experience tension and are faced with moral dilemmas.

Authentic patriotism: The film brings “deshbhakti without the Jai Hind chant” because the film takes the pain of its hero very seriously.

Things That Could Work Better Hell Of A Lot Better

Cluttered narrative: Some viewers found the story’s next-level short-term complexities problematic in that perhaps too many characters, and perhaps also plot subtractions, affected the pace.

Emotional Detriment: While the child’s death acts as the driver of the narrative, the emotional weight from the loss did not seem to get delivered fully for all; a few reviewers felt the emotional tenor.

Editing Choices: A good, short cut works, but sometimes character development can be left behind awkwardly, as supporting players were left out of the mix.

 Real-Life Relevance

John Abraham, in an interview, underlined being apolitical and not making movies that sway the audience—he’s committed to telling stories based on truth, not philosophy. This fits well within the tone of the film: a voice for, and not a politics of, simply providing a reminder that geopolitics has the ability to shape, and sometimes make more difficult, the life of an officer just doing his job.

Nitro Elements Summary

Statistic: Direct to OTT debut on 14 August 2025–just before Independence Day—is paramount to when theatrical release would be received properly because theatres are hesitant to approach the geopolitics of the content.

Case Study: The 2012 sticky bomb incident in Delhi is the story spine, a horrible true-life event turned into cinematic urgency.

Quote: John Abraham on the heartbreak of skipping theatres, ” … for an actor who simply wants to be seen on the big screen.”

Thrill-Seeking Viewers

Watch carefully—”Tehran” requires your attention. The fast pace and geopolitics embedded in the story require you to be an engaged viewer who pays attention to every line.

Read after—understanding the realities of the Iran-Israel-India triad that exist in the real world, to find meaning, will deepen the story (and life).

Pay attention to the performances—particularly Abraham’s held-back intensity and the women who hold subdued yet critical roles. 

Don’t compare—if you’re seeking excessive patriotism or “masala,” this is not the film you’ll find that. This film is cerebral, not celebratory.

If this review has helped you decide one way or another, please let me know— drop a comment at the bottom with your thoughts, share it if you found value, or subscribe to be sure you see more smart Indian thrillers! 

Read also

FAQs 

1. Is “Tehran” based on a true story? 

Yes—it is inspired by the sticky-bomb attack on an Israeli diplomat’s car parked in New Delhi in 2012, and that is where the film gets some emotional and political weight. 

2. Why was it not released in theatres? 

The film dealt with sensitive issues of Iran and Israel. Because of deliberate and theaters (distributors), it was decided to premiere the film on ZEE5 on August 14, 2025. 

3. How is John Abraham’s performance different here? 

He is more reserved and emotionally multilayered than we expect– one of the more layered in recent memory. 

4. Are the supporting actors used well? 

While Manushi Chhillar and Neeru Bajwa’s performances can be recognized, it feels like the supporting characters also deserved more screen time and further character arcs. 

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